The panel featured five social entrepreneurs who started organizations to address social and environmental issues. They were challenged by the status quo, societal norms, and criticism of large corporations. Their organizations aim to be sustainable and help communities help themselves, rather than only providing one-time support. For example, one founder created an online platform for donating to education loans in rural China. Another started boat services in Bangladesh that became self-sustaining as villagers generated revenue to buy more boats. The panel discussed how social ventures require challenging norms to create impact but also becoming sustainable.

1. Driven by Purpose
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Panel Members
 Calvin Chin, CEO, Qifang
 Mohammed Rezwan, Executive Director, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha
 Jack Sim, Founder, W orld Toilet Organization, TIME Hero
 Rahul Singh, Founder and Executive Director, GlobalMedic
 Rory Stear, Executive Chairman, Flambard HoldingsKey Bullets
Takeaway
 Leadership in social entrepreneurship comes in a multitude of forms but at the core of
each organization is a sense of altruism and community building rather than a profit
driven motivation.
Issues (Main Talking Points)
• Each entrepreneur is challenged by;
o The status quo of what they saw around them
o Societal and cultural norms
o Some criticism was even levied against large corporations
o All found a way to make their enterprises sustainable for those that they help
rather than a one-off support model
Recommendations
 Calvin Chin created an online platform where interested parties could donate money
towards the education of Chinese students in rural Chinese areas by offering them
no-interest loans
– This helped these students obtain higher caliber jobs which had spillover benefits
for the rest of their communities.
 Mohammed Rezwan created a number of services that were distributed via boats to
flood affected areas of Bangladesh.
– Services included health clinics, schools, and even community halls.
Driven by Purpose_23 Jan 2011 © 2010 Monitor Company Group, L.P. — Confidential

2. – The first few boats were funded by investors but now villagers are providing these
services and generating revenue to buy the boats themselves, making the boats
self-sustaining
 Jack Sim started a company which teaches rural villagers in Cambodia how to build
and sell low cost toilets which aid in sanitation efforts. Simultaneously, these villagers
benefit from a clean environment and a viable product from which to generate
revenue
 Rahul Singh started a volunteer paramedic troop that travels to post disaster areas
and trains the local population in W estern paramedic training. They
– The troop also installs clean water filters and trains the local populace in their use
ensuring clean water sustainability when the volunteers leave
 Rory Stear noticed the vast inequality in access to energy around the world and
realized that there had to be creative solutions to rectify the gaps
– Stear produced relatively simple products like radios, lights ,etc that could be
powered by a hand-crank so remote villages and areas with inconsistent electric
could have basic necessities
Problems, Challenges and Threats
 You have to risk failure and challenge the status quo in order to create an impactful
social venture.
Key Quotations
 “Help people help themselves” – Jack Sim
Driven by Purpose_23 Jan 2011 2 © 2010 Monitor Company Group, L.P. — Confidential